On the Front Lines of the Culture Wars

Irked viewers aren’t buying NBC’s apology for censoring “under God”

NBC’s decision to edit the word “God” from the Pledge of Allegiance during last weekend’s coverage of the U.S. Open golf tournament has teed off thousands, including an Ohio congressman, who wants the U.S. Golf Association to reconsider its relationship with the television network.

Here’s NBC’s politically correct version of the pledge, which happened twice:

“When we silence the name of God, we dim the light of freedom that defines us,” Congressman Jim Renacci wrote in a letter sent to golf association Executive Director Mike Davis. “That is why this matters.”

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Golf Digest magazine recently ranked Renacci as one of the best golfers in Congressman, ranking even higher than House Speaker John Boehner, a fellow Ohioan who played golf with President Obama last weekend.

NBC’s censored version of the Pledge didn’t score with viewers either, who tweeted their ire on Twitter and lit up the NBC telephone switchboards in protest.

“The good folks at NBC took it upon themselves to edit ‘under God’ out of this sacred pledge. However,” lamented golf fan Gary P. Jackson of the Internet site A Time for Reckoning, “NBC issued a lukewarm statement, hoping it would be considered an apology.”

“They are just testing the waters to gauge public reaction, if any,” wrote an irked viewer on another site. “Recall Harry Reid, former Senate Democrat leader, omitted the same words, then played dumb. Omitting ‘under God’ will soon become the politically correct way to say the Pledge. This is sad and bodes ill for America.”

Although written in 1892, the pledge was adopted by Congress in 1942as America’s official pledge . Twelve years later, Congress added “under God” — a phrase which it’s had now for 57 years.

The NBC statement read:

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We began our coverage of this final round just about three hours ago and when we did it was our intent to begin the coverage of this U.S. Open Championship with a feature that captured the patriotism of our national championship being held in our nation’s capital for the third time. Regrettably, a portion of the Pledge of Allegiance that was in that feature was edited out. It was not done to upset anyone and we’d like to apologize to those of you who were offended by it.

NBC’s statement only came after the topic raged for hours on the social media. Network insiders blamed “a technician” who thought the patriotic spot should be shortened. Jackson wasn’t buying NBC’s apology or the explanation. Instead, he told his readers that this is pretty much how NBC works. “They do something evil, then when enough people protest, they try and make it seem like an innocent slight. This is an insult to every American. It’s a double insult to those brave men and women who have fought, and died to keep America free.”

Congressman Renacci was unconvinced as well.

“Although I was pleased to see that NBC has apologized for its role in this unfortunate incident, as an avid fan of the sport and as an American, I would ask that USGA consider reviewing its relationship with NBC in advance of any future events,” he told golf association officials.

I have been a Soldier for 27 years. It is through faith in God that I have been able to survive and overcome the harshest things I have encountered. Our nation was created “under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.” These are not just words; this is part of our history. There is no excuse for what NBC did. You don’t take something as significant and as important as the Pledge of Allegiance and edited like it was nothing. What are they going to do next? Edit the National Anthem because some people don’t like certain words in it. We have to stop being so politically correct and stop trying to please everybody. If we continue doing this, we are going to destroy our great nation and everything that our forefathers worked so hard for.

http://AddaURLtothiscomment Vivian

America, let’s go back to the old time ways when the Flag was not burned, but flown in every house hold across America with pride, where English was the Language that every immigrant that migrated to this country was eager to speak and be taught. When the song “America the Beautiful” was song and goose bumps form on your arms, where freedom of speech was not use to tear down but to build up one’s self esteem. It was not used to be able to say hateful things and judgmental slurs against one another, but to empower others to be heard when there was injustice. When God Bless America was song and the raising of the American flag along with the Pledge of allegiance was a ritual that was done every morning in every school almost simultaneously across the US to show people and other countries how much we love our God and Country. (I knew this song and the Pledge of allegiance even before I could spell my own name). When the Star spangled Banner was Played, and all stood at attention with their hands over their hearts with tears streaming down there face waiting to sing with so much pride and patriotism the last 10 words of the song “ Land of the Free and the Home of the Brave”!
GOD BLESS AMERICA!

http://ThePledge Jackie

I’m offended that God was omitted from the Pledge! Who will stick up for ME when I get offended? I’m offended because God has been omitted from schools, because it offends some sorry clown who is a non-believer, and their rights over take mine???? This country was founded on the belief of God. Do you not know your history of this country?? Stop offending me, and take your sorry — somewhere else.

http://AddaURLtothiscomment BAW

The Pledge as Bellamy–who was a Baptist minister, btw–originally wrote it didn’t contain the words ‘under God.’

http://AddaURLtothiscomment cm wilson

No one would consciously leave out “under God”, not because it wasn’t part of it until 1954, not even if they don’t believe it, but because EVERYone wants to appeal to the most conservative Christian public. Even politicians who have no beliefs beyond $ and votes, are plying the public with family values and their “trust in Jesus” even when they’re plying their neighbor’s wife and haven’t been to church in years.
The new “in” is to appeal to the Christians, and no one, not even NBC would purposely leave out those words.
The Christian thing to do is to forgive them, it’s obviously a mistake; not because they’re believers but because they, along with every one else vying for a place at the table, are pandering to the Christian right.
Much like the Taliban, the new Christian mantra seems to be: if you’re not with us….you’re worthy of destroying.

http://AddaURLtothiscomment TEHILA

IF NBC WANTS TO LEAVE GOD OUT OF THE PLEDGE. IT IS TIME FOR US TO LEAVE NBC OUT OF OUR LIVES. GOODBYE NBC!! YOU REAP WHAT YOU SOW.
TO GOD BE THE GLORY FOREVER AND EVER, AMEN.

http://AddaURLtothiscomment Adam

Maye the MORONS at NBC don’t know the pledge of allegiance. Very poor commercial!!

http://PRAYER NELDA

OUR LORD TELLS US TO PRAY FOR THOSE THAT DO NOT BELIEVE AND THIS DAY I PRAY FOR ALL OF YOU THAT DO NOT WANT GOD OR FOR OUR NATION TO BE UNDER GOD .AS GOD SAYS IN HIS WORD THE HOLY BIBLE HE DOES NOT WANT ANYONE TO DIE AND NOT HAVE BEEN SAVED FROM HELL.IN JESUS CHRIST NAME I PRAY GOD WILL KEEP YOU FROM HELL.THIS IS MY PRAYER IN THE NAME OF JESUS CHRIST

http://AddaURLtothiscomment bj

My God NBC, your decision to remove “Under God” from the Pledge is the epitome of ignorance, stupidity, arrogance, and very disrespectful to the one who control all things. I compare your actions to those of Peter.

Peter was self-confident, but he was certainly sincere, and, had he trusted more in God and less in himself, he would not have miscarried. He did not look to his Maker for strength, and therefore he fell. He was surprised, and found unarmed. It is a well-known fact that circumstances have occurred in which persons of the most bold, intrepid, and adventurous minds have proved mere cowards, and acted to their own disgrace and ruin.

I say to you NBC, I will boycott your network and think others should do the same.

God Bless Americans for they no not what they do!

http://AddaURLtothiscomment Milford Woodard

I applaud all who commented. I wonder with such an outpour, how could we let pray and the word GOD to be taken schools and other situations.